Joe Conason: ‘He Kept Us Safe’: Bush Ignored Repeated Warnings Of Terrorist Attack

[babylonsister]

http://www.nationalmemo.com/he-kept-us-safe-bush-ignored-repeated-warnings-of-terrorist-attack/

‘He Kept Us Safe’: Bush Ignored Repeated Warnings Of Terrorist Attack
September 11th, 2012 12:52 am Joe Conason

snip//

New documents uncovered by investigative journalist Kurt Eichenwald show that despite repeated, urgent warnings from intelligence officials about an impending Al Qaeda attack, Bush did nothing because his neoconservative advisers told him that the threats were merely a “ruse” and a distraction.

snip//

But according to Eichenwald, he has seen still-classified documents that place the August 6 PDB in a new context – namely, the briefing papers preceding that date, which remain locked away:

While those documents are still not public, I have read excerpts from many of them, along with other recently declassified records, and come to an inescapable conclusion: the administration’s reaction to what Mr. Bush was told in the weeks before that infamous briefing reflected significantly more negligence than has been disclosed. In other words, the Aug. 6 document, for all of the controversy it provoked, is not nearly as shocking as the briefs that came before it.

snip//

The warnings continued and multiplied into July 2001, with counter-terrorism officials becoming increasingly alarmed – or as Eichenwald puts it, “apoplectic.” Still, Bush, Cheney, Rice and their coterie failed to act.

Familiar with Eichenwald’s career, I’m confident that he is reporting what he has seen with complete accuracy and due caution. A two-time winner of the George Polk Award and a Pulitzer finalist, he concludes carefully that we will never know whether a more alert administration could have mobilized to prevent 9/11. What we know for certain –that they didn’t bother – is an eternal indictment.

But Eichenwald’s report has relevance that is more than historical. Advising Mitt Romney, foreign policy neophyte, are the same neoconservatives whose arrogance and incompetence steered Bush away from Al Qaeda and toward the quagmire in Iraq. Returning them to power would be exceptionally dangerous to the security of the United States and the world.

[Swamp Lover]

1. Sorry, but this is not fair, nor the day for the discussion.

Everyday the Whitehouse recieves Intelligence Reports that point to serious dangers. This time it happened. Nineteen men took over four planes. This was a situation that no one could have imagined or planned against. We take far more precautions now than we ever did back then, so it is hard to see that past through todays precautions.

There is no good that comes from this discussion today.

[progressivebydesign]

3. you need to read up on this before dismissing it. The CIA BEGGED the WH to do something! n/t

[babylonsister]

5. What really isn't fair is how the r/w so often repeats the lie, 'he kept us safe', when

this is proof he did no such thing. They were so full of themselves they disregarded important intelligence that might have thwarted this attack. And these reports were specific, not generic, so your dog doesn't hunt.

[SoFlaJet]

8. Just another

Inconvenient truth for you republicans-and it SHOULD be noted, ESPECIALLY on this very day.

[Swamp Lover]

9. "You Republicans"

[Swamp Lover]

14. I'm a Republican?

You use the same argument that was made agianst Clinton for not getting Bin Laden during his term. You use the same argument that was made against Clinton after the bombing of the Cole, and I'm a Republican?

If your argument is that Bush knew of the attack and intentionally let it happen, then you're a 9/11 Truther and worthy of scorn. If you are saying that the haze of intelligence reports that come into the Whitehouse everyday could interpretted in such a way that 19 individuals could have been head off before they hijacked four flights out of hundreds in the air at that time, then you are refusing to acknowledge that security had always been lax in the US (as anyone who had ever traveled overseaqs could tell you). We are far more careful today.

My argument with the Bush administration is with his reaction that included the Patriot Act, lies to involve us in Iraq while giving short shrift to the real culprits in Afghanistan, and criminal acts such as setting up Guantanamo and torturous rendition.

There is a lot to bash Bush over, but getting caught with his pants down is unfair as we in the US had ong been an easy target that had just not been realized.

[babylonsister]

15. The argument is that the intelligence was there and Bush did NOTHING!

I'm kind of surprised that doesn't upset you more. A president with all this knowledge should be expected to do something; he didn't. Doesn't that piss you off at all?

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. Is that you Condi?

"This was a situation that no one could have imagined or planned against"

[tularetom]

2. If Kurt Eichenwald say it, you can take it to the bank

I've read his books on Prudential Securities and Enron and he was right on target on every aspect of these scandals.

I have the utmost confidence that he would not make these statements without being absolutely sure of the truth of what he was saying.

So, after all these years the question remains: Were they trying to provoke a confrontation to justify American intervention in the Middle East? Or were they simply incompetent?

Personally, I believe they were a little of both. Maybe a lot incompetent.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. They keep saying that, but it doesn't make it true.

And repeating the lie will never make it true.

[Th1onein]

7. One of the rules of propaganda: If you tell a lie, make it a BIG one!

They have the book memorized. I can tell.

Oh, and one other rule: Keep repeating the lie until people believe it.

[Th1onein]

6. Thank you so much for posting this!

Great article. And the truth. I have a feeling much more of this stuff is going to come out in the days ahead.

[babylonsister]

10. You're welcome, and

I haven't seen you in awhile; nice to see you here!

[Th1onein]

11. I'm here everyday. I come here for my morning news. But I don't post much sometimes.

It's always nice to see your name on a post, babylonsister. I know it's going to be good if you posted it. You're one of the reasons people like me CAN come here for their news!

[babylonsister]

13. Thanks so much!

I've been working a lot but do what I can. Glad you're here!

[zbdent]

12. Remember the fact that Repugs were screaming about Clinton not protecting

a Navy ship in a foreign port ... from a rubber raft.

And that was tied to Osama bin Laden.

George W. Bush pulled investigators to look into some rep's sex life ...

[babylonsister]

17. fyi, Eichenwald coming up on Rachel! nt